Readers' Answers (4)

Adoptions fall through alot if the dog or cat gets home and it does not work out. The animal usaully has to get along with another animal, with children or needs to not have aggression issues. All I can say is beavrihal exams and training as well as socialization may work.

While this doesn't happen often, it does occasionally does happen. I would say maybe 1 in 7 adoptions fall through. The reason usually is that the dog being adopted and the preexisting dog(s) can't get along, but a lot of times it's that the adopter hasn't listened to the information that you've given them. My shelter's solution is to offer 5 weeks of free training with every adoption. We have 2 behavioralists that are great. Potential adopters are also told that even if they don't sign up for the classes, the trainers will any questions they might have by phone. Sadly only 1 in 10 adopters take advantage of this.

at what point in the adoption? i've had a lot of people fail to show for the meet and greet, a few people change their mind during the meet and greet, and very, very rarely do i have an animal returned to me. the only two times i've had one returned was w/the same cat - both times b/c they didn't follow my advice.
there will always be instances when something honestly doesn't go as planned or an unanticipated event occurs, but returns usually happen when someone doesn't think it through or takes your advice too lightly. many times these can be avoided w/a thorough screening process. for instance, i ask why they're looking for a new pet and why they chose this specific cat. then i carry out the adoption process for days {never having them come over the same day they call and delivering the cat to them after at least 24 hours of them meeting}. those who want a new pet right then and there adopt from someone else who will cater to their sporadic whims. i also take full advantage of the 3 opportunities i have to get to know the perspective adopter and really fill them in on what's needed to make the animal happy and help them adjust. anytime you feel they're not right, too immature, unintelligent, or just flakey, you can end the adoption right there saying you just don't feel it's the right match. my brother also use to foster and he would always say "another family is interested" from the beginning, just to have an easy out if he didn't approve. if he did think they were the right home, he'd say "the family" decided on a different cat.

we have a few every so often.. sometimes it doesn't work out with the boxer even though they try, sometimes they don't listen to the instructions and sometimes their situation changes and they just provide a home for their boxer kid(z)
sometimes we have people that are too impatient to get through our adoption process and go elsewhere